One of the event highlights of the 2016 Golden Melody Awards & Festival, this year’s “GMA Talk” has invited JJ Lin, winner of Best Male Mandarin Singer at the 25th Golden Melody Awards, to tell his personal story in a presentation themed “Dream Timeline: Using Music to Tell Stories”, with Mickey Huang hosting. An avid gamer since childhood, Lin openly admits that no one predicted a promising future for him: “Everyone said I was a ‘stinky otaku’, but I managed to turn my passion into career motivation. For me, making music for video games not only fulfilled my dream of working on a soundtrack, it also helped me carve a way out from my ‘unpromising future’.”
According to JJ, he found success despite enduring the common perception that he had an “unpromising future”: “I had many ‘unpromising future’ experiences, but I have a personality that refuses to accept defeat. Although I didn’t become a professional gamer, through music I was able to find another path, one that allowed me to discover my value and the motivation for my existence.” When asked what he would say if he were recruited by fellow gaming lover Jay Chou to join his eSports team, JJ responded excitedly: “Bring it on! If video games can extend to music, that would be the best of both worlds.” JJ also demonstrated his broad interests by showing off his “Muhammad Ali” shirt and joking, “I actually also really like boxing, so if the opportunity arises I might seek some advice from the band BOXING.”
When it comes to his experimental album from last year, “From M.E. to Myself”, JJ says he is taking it seriously while maintaining a normal attitude: “This is indeed a soul-baring album. It’s an album that breaks through the walls in my heart.” JJ was not afraid to share his feelings on the eve of the announcement of this year’s Golden Melody Award nominees: “I’m not going to let it affect me too much! But in past years I was always on a plane when the nominees were announced, so perhaps this year I’ll ask my team to not schedule any work for me!”
JJ promises to make special preparations for his GMA Talk, noting: “I will look at JJ Lin from the perspective of an ‘observer’. As for the content of my talk, everyone will see when they come!” This year’s GMA Talk will be held on June 18 at Xinyi District’s ATT Show Box. Attendance registration opens 12:00 (noon) May 16 and closes 24:00 (midnight) June 5 or when all seats are filled, whichever is prior. Registration is free and available online only. All high school and university students studying or participating in music or the performing arts are welcome to attend. For details please visit the “Golden Melody Festival” page of the GMA 27 official website.
The Golden Melody Awards & Festival is organized by the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development of the Ministry of Culture, with Taiwan Television Enterprise as co-organizer. The 2016 Golden Melody Festival will take place at the Humble House Taipei from June 22 - 24. The three-day run of events will include international forums, keynote speeches, a biz matching center, exhibitions (this year’s theme will be visual technology), speed meetings, pitching, showcases/concerts, and so much more. For more information on all events, please visit the GMA 27 official website. This is one show you can’t miss!
